Arthas, Twilight and Jaina had arrived at a Gold Mine to see the cultists that were with the strange man earlier standing around a gold mine. Jaina frowned “What are they doing to the gold mine?”

Twilight frowned “Let’s attack now, ask questions later.”

Arthas nodded “Agreed.” The pair rushed at the cultists.

The cultists growled as they fled “Damn these intruders, we cannot allow them to interfere with out master’s plans!”

Twilight frowned “We need to set up a base, we will need reinforcements if we are to move forward.”

Jaina nodded as she walked over “I agree, we need to be cautious here.”

Arthas nodded as a group of peasants began constructing a town hall, barracks and several farms. Twilight frowned “I’m still confused about all of this, we need more information.”

Arthas nodded “Well we can get more from this strange man.”

Jaina nodded “Yes once we get an army ready and our base defended we’ll move.” Twilight nodded as the barracks and Town Hall had finishes construction. Twilight took charge of the military part of the base while Arthas began to manage the peasants and town hall which he trained a few peasants then set to upgrade into a keep. Jaina meanwhile focused on the Arcane Sanctum making sure the priests understood their orders. Arthas commanded “I want four towers constructed now!”

The towers were rapidly constructed and upgraded into a pair of cannon towers and a pair of guard towers. Arthas frowned a footmen and priests were waiting for orders, soon a Workshop and Blacksmith were constructed.

Twilight shouted as she heard cannon fire “Move out men, defend the base!” She charged, the footmen following as a hoard of Abominations, moved toward the base. The cannons knocked some of the Abominations off balance allowing the footmen to quickly take them down, Twilight meanwhile had begun tearing into those hadn’t reached the cannons yet, soon the entire Abomination attack force was decimated.

Twilight frowned as she returned only to find the workshop complete, after a few mortar teams and ten riflemen joined the footmen Twilight frowned “I think it’s time to move out.”

Arthas walked over as did Jaina who had a group of priests behind her. Arthas nodded “Agreed” he then turned around “Everyone we are moving out!”

As the group followed Arthas, Jaina approached Twilight “Um Twilight, can I ask you something?”

Twilight frowned “What do you wish to ask?”

Jaina sighed “I’ve just noticed how close you two are, I’m worried I’ll never be able to be like that with him. Do you have any advice for me on that front?”

Twilight frowned “Jaina, you are asking the wrong questions. Think about it you have attracted his interest not me do you know why because I do? You are different and that intrigues him, sure he is close to me but not in the way I want.”

Jaina eyes widened in realisation “You love him don’t you.”

Twilight grimaced “Yes but I won’t act on it because you make him happy, happier than I ever could and I am fine with that. Sure it hurts but I love Arthas too much too fight you over this, he can’t even if he wanted to, he is expected to have an heir to the throne and we are not genetically compatible. You and him are.”

Jaina blinked in shock at the revelations she was just presented with, the person who always accompanied Arthas and had all the reason to hate her guts was stepping aside to keep Arthas happy. Worse off Twilight was allowing her, someone she should despise to take that position she wanted to have.

They arrived at a base, Twilight growled “We’re too late, the grain has been exported already.”

They watched as the man in the robes from earlier approached them “Hello again children. I am Kel’Thuzad, and I’m warning you leave this alone, your curiosity will be the death of you.”

Arthas frowned “Are you responsible for this plague?”

Kel'Thuzad nodded “I ordered the Cult of the Damned to infect this grain, for you see I serve the Dreadlord Mal’Ganis. He commands the Scourge to cleanse this land and create a paradise of darkness.”

Twilight growled “What is the Scourge meant to cleanse!”

Kel’Thuzad chuckled “The living of course, he continues his plan in Strathholme if you want further proof. Just know he will likely ambush you there he is a cunning strategist.”

He ran of leaving a few ghouls to stall them, soon they caught up with him. He was guarded by a few abomination which they quickly dispatched, Arthas then stabbed Kel'Thuzad with his blade. Kel'Thuzad coughed up blood “My Death means little in the long run, still yours on the other hand.”

Twilight and Arthas glared at him “What could you possibly…” Jaina being more attentive saw an archer aiming at Twilight with an arrow, Jaina rushed towards Twilight pushing her out of the way. Jaina cried out as the arrow tore through her chest.

Twilight and Arthas ran over to Jaina, the arrow was removed and they tired to use their powers of light to heal her but nothing worked. Kel’Thuzad chuckled darkly “That is a cursed arrow, your precious light can’t do any…” he fell to the ground a she finally bled out.

Jaina turned with a weak smile to Arthas “Don’t try to get vengeance for this, Arthas. Please protect your people with everything you have” she then turned to Twilight “I saw the arrow was aiming for one of the holes in your armour, he needs you more than me there are plenty of pretty gifted young mages but you are a genuine friend to him and those for someone like him are rare. Never give up on him.”

Jaina closed her eyes, Arthas began to cry as Jaina’s shallow breathing stopped. Twilight calmly placed her wing over her mourning friend.

Author's Note

I did say something big will happen.